Abstract

Studies have shown that in South Africa HIV and AIDS has become an important contributing factor to maternal and infant mortality. There is an increase in spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, perinatal and infant mortality, intrauterine growth retardation and low birth weight. TB exacerbates this problem as a common opportunistic infection of HIV especially in this region of Africa.

In response to these problems the South African Health Department has updated the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) Policy. If successfully implemented the proposed programme will improve both maternal and child health and will assist government to progress towards attaining the survival targets it has set itself for 2015.